How Europe in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday Thursday marks 80 years since Victory in Europe Day, when the Allies accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender. The day will be marked with memorials and moments of silence across Europe. Steve Inskeep
Black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel as cardinals cast an unsuccessful first vote Black smoke streamed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the more than 130 cardinal electors have not come to a two-thirds agreement about who the next pope should be. Sarah Ventre
Germany elects center-right politician Friedrich Merz as chancellor Center-right politician Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor after an unprecedented two rounds of voting in the German parliament. Rob Schmitz
The conclave to choose a new pope is about to begin As more than a billion Catholics around the world await the election of a new pope, all eyes will be on the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals will begin the secretive process known as a conclave. Bill Chappell
Germany's parliament set to elect Friedrich Merz as new chancellor Germany's parliament is set to elect conservative Friedrich Merz as its new chancellor on Tuesday. Michel Martin
How this teen fled Russian occupation and became a hero in Ukraine An 18-year-old from Russian-occupied Luhansk tells NPR how and why he escaped to Kyiv. Kateryna Malofieieva
Ukraine and the U.S. sign minerals deal with both sides calling it a win Ukraine and the U.S. agreed to share profits from the sale of Ukraine's critical minerals and raw materials in a deal that both sides are calling a win. Michel Martin
Ukraine and the U.S. say they're ready to sign a minerals deal The U.S. and Ukraine are expected to sign a deal to jointly invest in Ukraine's mineral, raw materials and natural resource wealth in exchange for future U.S. aid. Joanna Kakissis
A trial of suspects accused of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint begins in Paris In 2016, thieves robbed Kim Kardashian at gunpoint in Paris and made away with about $10 million in jewelry. The suspects, whom the French press have dubbed "grandpa robbers," are now on trial. Eleanor Beardsley
Cause of blackout in Spain and Portugal still unclear as power almost fully returned An unprecedented power outage hit Spain, as well parts of Portugal and southern France on Monday. Power has almost fully returned Tuesday, but the cause of the outage remains unclear. Miguel Macias
